I love looking at sports photography- most of the time it is because the photos are simply cool and it is fun to see athletic specimens doing remarkable things. But there is a different side of sports photography, that is able to capture images that are relevant to our culture, sometimes dealing with race or significant world events. I came across a Sports Illustrated collection of the greatest sports photos of all time and enjoyed scanning the variety of images. It is amazing to see these great athletes do unthinkable things with their bodies. Two particular photos that stand out are ones of Tiger Woods and Joe Namath. In the TIger Woods photo, he is in action at the 2001 Masters, the biggest golf tournament in the world, and all eyes are on him. The photo is significant because Tiger Woods is a black golfer, playing at a golf course that did not allow black members for a long time, and he is being watched by hundreds of white fans. Our culture loves watching great athletes and Tiger Woods is the best golfer on the planet. The Joe Namath shot is a famous photo in which he is fielding questions from reporters, before he wins MVP of the Super Bowl. I like this photo because it shows how far our culture has come in our fascination with sports. In 1969, when this photo was taken, our culture likes football, but baseball is king and sports are not as big of a deal as they are today. This is clear because Joe Namath was one of the biggest stars at this point, but is still able to relax by the pool without being completely overwhelmed by reporters and fans. This photo would be impossible to get today, as our media and fans obsess over athletes and their every move. All sports photography is fascinating, but some images have a more meaningful story.
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